Named Fons Scotiae by the Romans who founded it nearly 2,000 years ago, the curative waters that bubble up through the sandy ground were used by Red Friars, who maintained a hospital in the village between 1250 and 1587.

The building of the ornamental well and wash house in Scotlandwell in more recent times was undertaken as part of a general scheme of village improvement carried out between 1857 and 1860 by Thomas Bruce of Arnot.

[citation needed] In 1822 a small piece of common ground, situated by the main street and known locally as the Peat Hill, was divided up amongst the feuars of the village.

In addition to land being cleared to create a bleach field, an ornamental garden with exotic trees was laid out for the benefit of villagers between the wash house and the main street.

Two years after the death of Sir Charles Bruce of Arnot in 1922, the well, wash house, garden and bleach field were handed over to the people of Scotlandwell as a gift.